Carey: We Will Fix ‘Idol'

By Michael Malone
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

American Idol was a drag on Fox's fourth quarter broadcast business, conceded Chase Carey, News Corp. president and CEO, but he was optimistic the network could right the storied show. "There's no question Idol affected our broadcast business," he told investors in News Corp.'s quarterly earnings presentation.
David Hill, News Corp.'s senior executive VP, has been tapped to oversee American Idol and The X Factor while Fox searches for a replacement for reality chief Mike Darnell. "He's shown a unique touch in a number of places," said Carey.
Carey said not to count out Idol quite yet. "We think there an opportunity to reenergize [it]," he said. "It's still a profitable show. It's still a top 5 show."

Michael Malone
Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.